Obituary of Harvey A. Butler

Harvey Andrews Butler, age 74 of Ballston Lake passed away on Tuesday April 15, 2014 with his wife and daughter by his side. He was born on October 16, 1939 in New Orleans, the son of the late Richard and Sue Butler. He was a 1963 graduate of Otterbein College in Westerville, OH, where he was the president of the Zeta Phi fraternity. He was a veteran of the US Air Force, where he was stationed at Dyess AFB in Abilene, TX on the Base Commander’s staff. He was honorably discharged in 1967 as a Captain. He began his civilian employment with General Electric in Schenectady where he worked several positions in the purchasing operation of Navy nuclear components until 1984. He left to join Prudential as a realtor and manager until retiring in 2004. In retirement he enjoyed traveling with his wife including visits to many US National Parks and along the Danube River. Occasionally their daughter joined them on visits including to Scotland, Spain, and most recently to Bermuda to celebrate their 50th anniversary. He was known for collecting, organizing, and storing information, and even brought his original 1962 bill of $45 a week back to the same Bermuda honeymoon hotel. He was an avid golfer and reluctant bridge player. He loved to try new recipes with his wife and share meals with friends. He experimented with cocktails, most recently the St. Germaine, and was known for his legendary Bloody Mary. He is survived by his wife Cynthia “Cindy” Butler (nee Houglan), daughter Kirsten “Kris” Butler, sister Janet (Walt) Lewis, brother-in-law James (Joanne Limbach) Houglan, nephews Mark and Sean Lewis, Bill Houglan, and niece Julie Cornell. Calling hours will be held on Saturday from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Catricala Funeral Home Inc., 1597 Route 9, Clifton Park, with a gathering afterwards at the family home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, by going to www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/NYR, or the Esterville Animal Shelter, 100 Russell Rd., Greenfield Center, NY 12833.